Business Preparedness

City of Menlo Park – Emergency & Disaster Preparedness

Preparing your business for disasters protects your employees, customers, property, and your bottom line. In Menlo Park, hazards such as earthquakes, wildfire smoke, flooding, power outages, extreme heat, and public health emergencies can disrupt operations with little warning. A strong preparedness plan helps your business recover faster and maintain continuity.

Why It Matters

Protects employees and customers
Reduces downtime and financial losses
Preserves critical data and infrastructure
Supports community resilience
Meets insurance and regulatory expectations

The City encourages all businesses to align their planning with national guidance from Ready.gov and regional coordination with San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management.

Know Your Risks in Menlo Park

Businesses in Menlo Park should plan for:

Earthquakes – Bay Area fault activity
Flooding – Especially near San Francisquito Creek
Wildfire smoke impacts – Regional fires affecting air quality
Power outages – Planned or unplanned outages
Extreme heat – Increasing due to climate change
Public health emergencies – Including infectious disease outbreaks

Create a Business Continuity Plan

A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) outlines how your business will continue operating during and after a disaster.

Key components:

Emergency contact list (employees, vendors, clients)
Delegation of authority
Data backup and recovery strategy
Alternate work locations or remote work plans
Supply chain contingencies
Insurance documentation and asset inventory

Download templates and tools at:
Ready.gov/business

Protect Your Employees

Conduct regular evacuation and earthquake drills
Post evacuation maps and assembly locations
Maintain first aid kits and emergency supplies
Establish employee emergency notification procedures
Encourage personal preparedness at home

Businesses may also coordinate training with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.

Secure Your Facility

Anchor heavy shelving and equipment (earthquake safety)
Elevate critical equipment in flood-prone areas
Install surge protectors and backup power where appropriate
Improve ventilation systems to manage smoke events
Review building and fire code compliance

Prepare for Power Outages

Identify critical systems that require backup power
Consider battery backups or generators
Protect perishable inventory
Plan for manual transaction processes
Maintain updated contact information with your utility provider

Communication & Alerts

Stay informed before and during emergencies:

Sign up for City alerts at menlopark.gov/alerts
Follow #menloprepared
Monitor National Weather Service alerts

Sector-Specific Considerations for Menlo Park

Office & Tech Sector

Cloud-based data backups
Remote work capability
IT redundancy and cybersecurity protections

Retail & Restaurants

Perishable inventory plans
Customer communication strategies
Temporary closure procedures

Healthcare & Senior Services

Continuity of patient care
Backup medical supplies
Coordination with local emergency services

Construction & Development

Site security during storms
Hazardous materials management
Equipment stabilization

Build Resilience Today

Prepared businesses recover faster and support the broader Menlo Park community during emergencies. Taking steps now reduces risk and strengthens operational resilience.

Prepared businesses matter. Prepared businesses are powerful.

Together we are #MenloPrepared.